This is an innovative example of Civic Art and was first inspired by a small LED lighting art exhibit at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View and the Giants World Series win in 2010. We also have a strong Pleasanton connection to the project as several members of the lighting manufacturer's team assigned to this project have stayed overnight at my Downtown Pleasanton home (and also the Stoneridge apartments when I was living there) while working on the Bay Lights project. If you play trivia at Redcoats on Wednesday nights, then you have probably seen them playing with us on our Townies and Transplants trivia team.

I am sharing this story because I know we have lots of stories like this in Pleasanton and it would be fun to figure out a way to share them with each other. In fact, I was at Sephora at the Stoneridge Mall yesterday and heard about how someone from Pleasanton was there a few weeks ago to get some new makeup ideas for attending the Grammy Awards Ceremony.

Pleasanton has an amazing connection to exciting events happening in the world and I hope we can come together to share these stories and be positive.

I posted some pictures from last night's party on my twitter and campaign facebook page:

Also, here is a link to a YouTube video for a lighting show on top of the Empire State Building - this shows the color changing capabilities of the same lighting manufacturer that created the white lights currently on the Bay Bridge: Web Link

Posted by Libertarian
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Mar 6, 2013 at 11:07 pm

It frosts my behind to no end to see such a squandering of taxpayer money (supplements for the arts and humanities). Unless our taxes go to defending our freedoms, with emphaissis on freedoms, then its a big waste and only makes the government all that more powerful. How about a tax rebate instead of this extravagent waste?

Posted by Libertarian
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Mar 7, 2013 at 1:35 am

That's exactly my point! Why have government fund arts and humanities with taxpayer money when all artists have to do is get $8 million in privat funding? All artists could be millionaires if they paid more attention to fund raising out in the private sector. Instead, their pampered wards of the state. I want my rebate!

Posted by Libertarian
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Mar 7, 2013 at 8:54 am

When you get clear about what you're trying to say, Vincent, let us know. Until then, you're welcome to bask in the nonsense your spouting. If there are 'hundreds of starving artists among the readership,' in my humble estimation they deserve to starve until either consumers show a willingness to purchase there art or some wealthy patrons allow them access to there wealth. In the law of the capitalist marketplace, in case you didn't know, demand dictates. If artist wannabees want to starve, that's okay by me. Just don't ask me to pay taxes to "supplament" the poor "artists" who aren't good enough to convince people to purchase there "art". IMHO most artists would be better off in a technology program where they can be useful to a corporation.

Posted by Wake Up America!
a resident of Country Fair
on Mar 7, 2013 at 1:17 pm

I'll let Libertarian speak for himself. But I don't like the name calling one bit. And instead of engaging him, you skurt the issue.

Does anyone want to deny that artist's are pulling a scam on the American taxpayers? We need artists about as much as we need comix book readers. Neither contributes anything of value. People are free to read comix books all they want. That's freedom which is the American way. But don't make all the hard workers fork over their earnings for the sake of some lay about artist who wants to fingerpaint a mural or hang lights from a bridge. Where are our values going? This is why we're falling behind China and India.

Posted by We need everybody
a resident of Laguna Oaks
on Mar 8, 2013 at 10:54 am

[removed] We need artists, authors, entrepreneurs and everything in between, including comic book readers. I don't have the least bit of artistic talent but surely appreciate those who do. The privately funded light sculpture on the bridge shows the sheer creative genius and technological brilliance of the talented people involved. It's beautiful. It's appreciated. My thanks to everyone who contributed to it and especially to those who created it.

Posted by SMS
a resident of Pleasanton Heights
on Mar 8, 2013 at 12:11 pm

A group of us visited the Asian Art Museum last night for the Terracotta Warrior exhibit and had dinner at Sinbads specifically to see the lights on the Bridge. It was quite entertaining and somewhat spectacular. Although it may not be helping East Bay revenues, I'm sure it is providing a boom to the SF downtown economy!

Posted by vincent
a resident of another community
on Mar 8, 2013 at 8:39 pm

Awfully heavy hand by the Moderator of this board -- reminds of an exchange from a favorite movie:

Henry Drummond: Radio! God, this is going to break down a lot of walls.
Radio Announcer: You're not supposed to say "God" on the radio!
Henry Drummond: Why the hell not?
Radio Announcer: You're not supposed to say "Hell", either.
Henry Drummond: This is going to be a barren source of amusement!

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